What in the world, (or other worldly) thing is this?

[Hay Dude]

YUCKY

 

[Diggin It]

Do a search for 'Pine Gall Rust'. You'll find lots of similar pictures. Seems that it's a cross infection with some Oak species.

 

[California]

Coronavirus has jumped across species again.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

That looks very much like cedar rust. It is a problem for our orchard. We are surrounded by mixed evergreen and hardwoods and there are plenty of cedar and other trees to carry this fungus. It effects the juniper. Then the spore blow to an apple tree. And if untreated they run thru their cycle and blow back to the juniper forest.

It is devastating to the trees.

 

[Timm250]

It is Cedar Apple Rust. There are fungicides to control it.

If you have apple trees it will cause spots on the leaves as well as the apples. It seems to stunt the growth of the fruit too.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

So is my picture before it goes to the spore stage?

 

[MossRoad]

See if this is it...

Eastern pine gall rust

Maryland Biodiversity Project - Eastern Pine Gall Rust (Cronartium quercuum)

 

[Steppenwolfe]

See if this is it...

Eastern pine gall rust

Maryland Biodiversity Project - Eastern Pine Gall Rust (Cronartium quercuum)

Yep... That's it. Sure looks alien to me. Too many sci fi movies, I guess. Thanks!

 

[Diggin It]

That looks very much like cedar rust.

It is Cedar Apple Rust.

Looks like it, but isn't.

So is my picture before it goes to the spore stage?

Correct.

See if this is it...

Eastern pine gall rust

See post 12 above.